2018 Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan

7.6

Overview

The S Class has been the benchmark for the full-size luxury sedan for decades, now. Generation after generation Mercedes has built this car that does more than transport people from A to B. 2018 Mercedes Benz S 450 Sedan is a symbol of quality and power. It is a benchmark which other manufacturers aspire to surpass.

The 3.0 Liter V6 engine is good for 362 hp, the new S 450 comes with a smaller engine and lowered price. But at this price ($89,900), the S 450 sedan is anything but cheap. The S Class is a testament to success and people will know of your success when you arrive in the S Class.

It would be unwise to think that the S 450 is unrivaled. The full-size luxury sedan segment is privy to some intense competition. The S 450 locks horns with the BMW 740i, Audi A8, and Porsche Panamera sedan.

S 450 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A)

S 450 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A)

Expert Review

carhp editorOctober 23, 2018

7.6

Overall Rating

6.6/10Engine

5.7/10Fuel Economy

9.5/10Interior

8.5/10Exterior

The 3.0 Liter V6 engine is good for 362 hp, the new S 450 comes with a smaller engine and lowered price. But at this price ($89,900), the S 450 sedan is anything but cheap. The S Class is a testament to the success and people will know of your success when you arrive in the S Class.

Features

The S 450 is only available in a one body type – sedan. This Merc is offered with 3.0 Liter engine that sends power to the rear wheels via a nine-speed transmission. The 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system is optional.

The S 450 is packed to the brim with standard features. These include adaptive LED lighting, power trunk lid, an adaptive suspension, keyless ignition, and soft close doors. The interior gets a 12.3 “display for the COMMAND infotainment system.

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The Mercedes S 450 4MATIC sedan is available will all-wheel-drivetrain that puts power to the wheels in a more controlled manner and offers better traction in wet and slippery conditions.

Engine

6.6/10

“Starting with the new S450, even in base form the 362-horsepower V6 has more than adequate muscle to hustle this full-size luxury sedan. The 0-60-mph mark arrives in just around five seconds, which not long ago was sports-car territory.” - KelleyBlueBook

Engine and Transmission

The S 450 receives a new 3.0 L Biturbo V6 engine that is rated for 362 hp and 369 lb-ft. of torque. At first glance these figures might seem disappointing for a full sized luxury sedan – and that too the flagship S Class Sedan. The new V6 engine is low by 101 hp and 147 lb-ft. of torque compared to the turbocharged V8 in S 560.

But when you are behind the wheel of an S 450, you wouldn’t be disappointed at all. This V6 engine has enough grunt to propel the S 450’s real estate, briskly. All that power available on tap, even when you dig the gas pedal it is really difficult to hear the engine battling out the forces of nature from inside the cabin. Truly, befitting for a luxury sedan!

Transmission duties are taken by 9G Tronic automatic transmission. The gearbox and the engine exist in a perfect symbiosis. And considering the S Class’s mission of providing an unmatched luxury experience within its oasis, you wouldn’t be using those paddle shifters a lot.

Models

Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan

BMW 740i Sedan

Audi A8 L

Porsche Panamera

MSRP

$89,900

$83,100

$82,500

$85,000

Engine

3.0-Liter V6 Biturbo engine

3.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder Engine

3.0-Liter TFSI 6-Cylinder Engine

3.0L V6 Turbocharged

Transmission

9-speed automatic

8-speed automatic

8-speed automatic

8-speed automatic

Horsepower

362 hp

320 hp

333 hp

330 hp

Torque

369 lb-ft

332 lb-ft

325 lb-ft

331 lb-ft

The entry-level products from manufacturers in this segment see a different iteration of the 3.0 L turbocharged V6 engine. So, the power outputs from these engines aren’t too dissimilar. The Beemer pulls off 320 hp from its Twin Power turbo V6 engine, Porsche does a 330 hp, Audi betters it by 3 more hp at 333 hp and the Mercedes beats them all with its 363 hp.

Acceleration

Just a glance at a Mercedes S Class and you know what it stands for! Accomplishing such a feat is very important for a luxury brand. The S 450 wasn’t designed to jostle drag strips, or not in any sense it was meant to carve corners through the canyon road.

But don’t take S 450 to be a slow-poke, it reaches the 60 mph mark in 5.4 seconds. The S 450 builds up speed without any drama. The quarter-mile marker comes within 13.8 seconds. The S 450 doesn’t define “quick” in this segment but it packs enough to fulfill your daily dose of driving.

Models

Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan

BMW 740i Sedan

Audi A8 L

Porsche Panamera

0-60 MPH

5.4 sec

5.4 sec

5.5 sec

4.7 sec

Quarter mile

13.8 sec @ 102 mph

13.4 sec @ 104 mph

13.8 sec @ 101.3 mph

13.3 sec @ 107 mph

Engine

3.0-Liter V6 Biturbo engine

3.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder Engine

3.0-Liter TFSI 6-Cylinder Engine

3.0L V6 Turbocharged

Emission

(Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)

8.1

7.4

8.1

7.3

The competition also sticks close to this sub-5-second mark, except the Porsche Panamera which manages a 4.7-second naught to 60 mph run. When it comes to emissions, test Porsche and BMW farewell than the Audi and Mercedes Benz.

Ride and Handling

It is a distinct feeling with this sedan. Instead of moving on the road it feels like you are flying just 2 inches above the tarmac. That is the level of sophistication Mercedes has been able to come after decades and billions of dollars invested in the S Class.

At lower speeds, the electromechanical steering breathes life into the front wheels of the car. Even for such a size, the S 450 is such a doll at low-speed maneuvers. Driving in the city is never a challenge due to the light steering. The steering weighs up as higher speeds are achieved. Even the precise on-center feel and straight-line stability inspire confidence in drivers.

The superstructure sits upon Airmatic Suspension for a balanced and comfortable ride. The setup uses electronically controlled springs which are more adaptive to driving conditions. This system also lowers ride height to achieve more efficiency and stability at higher speeds.

Adaptive Damping System is embedded with the Airmatic suspension. This system improves ride handling by selecting one of the available four damping profile. These dampening states can also be selected by driver (via selectable drive modes) Sport has firmer setting and bumps are filtered to the cabin, while comfort focuses on reducing the impact from improper road surfaces.

Braking

The S 450 is equipped with 13.2-inch brake rotors at the front and 11.8-inch brake rotors at the rear. Weighing in at 4630 lbs. the S 450 is the heaviest sedan amongst this bunch. Due to unavailability of deceleration (60-0 mph) data, we are unable to mention the accurate braking performance of the S 450 sedan.

Model

Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan

BMW 740i Sedan

Audi A8 L

Porsche Panamera

Brake Front (in.)

13.2

17.7

15.0

13.8

Brake Rear (in.)

11.8

14.5

14.0

13.0

Curb Weight (lbs.)

4630

4195

4464

4001

60-0 MPH (ft.)

N/A

112

118

Fuel Economy

5.7/10

When compared to the larger V8 engine, the smaller V6 engine does have an advantage in fuel efficiency. It also complies better with the stricter EPA emission regulations. The S 450 offers a combined mpg of 22.

Model

Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan

BMW 740i Sedan

Audi A8 L

Porsche Panamera

MPG (city)

19

21

19

21

MPG (highway)

28

29

29

28

MPG (combined)

22

24

22

24

The S 450 is equipped with a standard Eco Start/Stop system which switches off the engine when it detects a prolonged idle state. This system works at stop lights and when the driver lifts the foot off the brake pedal. The engine instantly restarts for a prompt response.

The competition manages to pull more frugal numbers. BMW and Porsche offer a combined mpg of 24 while the Audi manages a number identical to the Merc.

Interior

9.5/10

Downtown Manhattan is not a quiet place on a Wednesday morning. But when I slam the doors shut, the inside of the S-Class is almost as quiet as a library. The journey out of the city traverses rough and rutted roads, but few unsettled feelings make their way from roadway to my butt. The refreshed S-Class, just like last year’s car, provides an incredible amount of isolation from the outside world.” – James Holmes, Motor1.com

Seating and Comfort

The luxury on offer might make a case against many British land yachts. The cabin is a testimony to the billions of dollars that Mercedes has spent on R&D for the S Class. The ride quality is anything like a car. Once you are inside, and you have pulled over the windows. You are isolated from the world.

Comfort and refinement have been pillars for the S Class. Similarly, the S 450 shares the same passion for providing a first class business jet cabin-comfort to the passengers. To take comfort to even superior level, this Merc uses Magic Body Control (optional) system that uses onboard cameras to map the road surface ahead. Then the car adjusts the suspension accordingly to provide a silky-smooth ride.

Model

Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan

BMW 740i Sedan

Audi A8 L

Porsche Panamera

Passenger capacity

5

5

5

4

Passenger Volume(ft. cube)

122.5

122.3

121.9

N/A

Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)

39.7/59.7/41.4

39.9/59.2/41.4

37.2/59.1/41.4

N/A

Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg)

(In.)

37.4/59.1/34.1

38.9/57.7/44.4

39.1/57.8/42.9

N/A

The seats offer multiple adjustments to provide maximum comfort. These seats are equipped with cooling and heating functions. Heck! Even massage function is embedded within the seats. The S 450 provides an adequate headroom (39.7 inches). The front shoulder room on offer is best in this comparison (59.7 inches).

For those of you, who are likely to be chauffeured in your car. The S 450 has got you covered with a rear seat adjustment that replaces the 3-person bench with two seats. This function also includes a footrest for the right seat. This Merc also comes with a folding tray and heated and cooled cup holders for your drinks.

Infotainment System

The primary display is a high-resolution screen which features a fast refresh rate and automatic adjustment to ambient light. This screen provides access to navigation, entertainment and comfort features. The menu can be accessed via an intuitive touchpad controller or the right-hand touch button the steering wheel.

The central 12.3-inch display is complemented by another 12.3-inch screen which is placed in front of the driver. Both the screens are integrated together and provide a seamless viewing experience. The display is customizable and different instrumentation styles can be selected.

The audio department is handled by the duo of Burmester Surround Sound system and FrontBass system. 13 high-quality speakers and 590- watt 9-channel digital amplifier constitute an audio system worthy of the S Class badge. The twin subwoofers from FrontBass are placed under the dashboard in the front frame of the car accumulating to a precise bass across the interior.

Interior Features

Heated Rear Seats

Refrigerator Box For Rear Cabin

Heated Steering Wheel

Rear Seat Entertainment System

Head-Up Display

Interior Air Filtration

13 Total Speakers

590 Watts Stereo Output

Cargo Capacity

The S 450 sedan offers 16.3 cu-ft. of rear cargo space. The space on offers is comparable to the competition. This Merc is also offered with a standard power-closing trunk lid. The cargo area can easily accommodate your luggage for your daily commutes and occasional weekend trips.

Model

Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan

BMW 740i Sedan

Audi A8 L

Porsche Panamera

Cargo Volume (ft.3)

16.3

18.2

14.2

17.4

The competition offers much more rear cargo space with BMW topping the list with its 18.2 cu-ft. of space. This is followed by the Porsche Panamera with its 17.4 cu-ft. and then by Audi A8 L with its 14.2 cu-ft. of space.

Exterior

8.5/10

“The overall look blends the formal appearance of past S-Class models with elegance, athleticism, and modernism that affirms the technology within. This generation of S-Class is eye-catching, highlighted by the swoopy and curvaceous roofline that tapers into a sleek, smooth tail.”- TheCarConnection

Dimensions and Weight

Even without the minor tweaks the S 450 was already an accomplished design. The 2018 update comprises of little tweaks to the front and rear bumper, and headlights. The S 450 receives a new grill that was earlier reserved for the V-12 S class. Though these changes have made the design more assertive, there are subtle components from the previous year’s design which have been subtracted.

Model

Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan

BMW 740i Sedan

Audi A8 L

Porsche Panamera

Curb weight (lbs.)

4630

4195

4464

4001

Length(in)

206.5

206.6

207.3

198.8

Width(in)

74.8

74.9

76.7

76.3

Height(in)

58.7

58.2

57.9

56.0

Ground clearance (in)

5.0

5.8

4.9

6.4

Wheelbase (in)

124.6

126.4

122.9

116.1

Track width (in) F/R

63/63.2

63.4/64.6

64.7/64.4

65.8/65.0

Dimensionally, the S 450 measures 206.5 inches, 74.8 inches and 58.7 inches at length, width, and height. It surely is a presence that needs a well-prepped garage for its arrival.

When compared, the S 450 is the tallest (74.8 inches) while the Audi A8 L is the longest (207.3) and widest (76.7 inches) sedan in this comparison. Similarly, the Porsche Panamera is the lightest (4001 lbs.) car in this comparison.

Safety

The S 450 is yet to be rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Safety Features

A host of safety features work together to ensure the wellbeing of the driver and the passengers. The S 450 is equipped with nine airbags, PRE-SAFE Sound, Car-to-X Communication, and Active Brake Assist and more.

Dual Front And Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags

Cornering Lights

Stability Control

4-Wheel ABS

Brake Drying

Adaptive Headlights

High Pressure Washers Headlamps

Blind Spot And Lane Departure Warnings Accident Avoidance System

Pre-Collision Safety System

Post-Collision Safety System

Competition

Mercedes Benz S 450 vs BMW 740i Sedan

The 7 series does its duty as the flagship car for BMW. The 740i sedan is priced at $ 83,100. Surprisingly there is some terrific competition in the luxury sedan segment. The 740i is powered by a 320 hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six.

The 7 series is a good package but it still cannot match the stellar standards set by the Mercedes S Class. The BMW offers the largest rear cargo (18.2 cu-ft.) space. And the new infotainment system is even more streamlined and easy to use.

Mercedes Benz S 450 vs Audi A8 L

Starting at $ 82,500 the Audi A8 is due for a major update in 2019. The base sedan is offered with 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine that produces 333 hp. The A8 manages to do a lot without compromising on a particular factor, the A8 manages borderline sporty without losing luxury. The all-wheel-drive setup offers confident handling around corners and provides decent grip in wet and slippery conditions.

Mercedes Benz S 450 vs Porsche Panamera Sedan

Panamera is a different breed of luxury sedan. It is more tuned for sport than luxury. Even the base Panamera is generously equipped with standard features. It comes with Porsche Adaptive suspension, front and rear parking sensors and a parking camera.

With a sticker price of $85,000 the Panamera slots just below the Mercedes S 450 sedan. The Porsche features the lightest curb weight of 4001 lbs. and a very brisk naught to 60 acceleration.

Final Verdict

The new S 450 sedan might be a little low on power when compared to the previous generation. Even after the power deficit, the 362 hp engine takes care of the mission – to provide luxury above anything else. This refined power delivery of this engine would never leave you wanting for more power.

With the release of the all-new Audi A8 later this year, the S Class would no longer be the tech leader in this segment. The S 450 misses out on rear-wheel steering, active suspension and foot massagers. The new update for the S 450 is due in three years and till then we can assume that the Audi A8 will unrivaled in this tech race.

When you are journeying inside the S 450 sedan, you have this cocoon of the car that isolates you from the harsh reality of the outside world. This car simply puts the world on mute. You would pass over potholes and road undulations without the slightest interference to your cabin comfort.